# NTSB LAX02LA248: Mooney M20M, N1038K, Gualala, CA, August 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2002, 19:30 local (Aug 8, 2002, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Gualala, CA - Coordinates: 38.801387, -123.530281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8014&lon=-123.5303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55435/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA248 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision in executing a go-around. Contributing factors were the pilot's limited experience landing on short fields and the rising terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane contacted bushes and rising terrain during an attempted go-around. The pilot said that although he was familiar with his airplane, he had never landed on an actual short field runway. The airport's runway 31 is 2,500 feet long, with a 300-foot displaced threshold, and trees are present in the approach path. The pilot stated that he flew over the airport two times and became "apprehensive" about landing there. He followed the specified right-hand traffic pattern and utilized a short field approach procedure, with the wing flaps fully extended and the approach speed at 65 knots. The pilot further indicated that on short final approach, the airplane's nose was high, and his visibility of the runway was therefore limited. The setting sun was about 30 degrees left of the airplane's nose. The pilot stated that he did not recall if the airplane touched down but was certain he entered ground effect. The airplane drifted over the left side of the runway. Rather than attempting to redirect the airplane's course, the pilot applied full engine power to go around. Seconds thereafter, as the engine power increased, the airplane impacted rising terrain and bushes. The pilot wrote in his statement that he realized he should have initiated the go-around sooner. The pilot did not indicate having experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane. The airport manager reported that the airplane came to rest after impacting bushes and terrain about 100 feet west of the runway's left edge and about 300 feet northwest of the runway's departure end. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2002, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20M, N1038K, collided with rising terrain and vegetation adjacent to the Ocean Ridge (uncontrolled) Airport, Gualala, California. The collision occurred following application of engine power during a go-around to runway 31. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained a minor injury. The airplane was being operated on a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Oakland, California, about 1845. On August 8, 2002, the pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that although he was familiar with his airplane, he had never landed on an actual short field runway. (Ocean Ridge's runway 31 is 2,500 feet long. It has a 300-foot displaced threshold and trees are present in the approach path.) The pilot stated that he flew over the airport two times and became "apprehensive" about landing there. He followed the specified right-hand traffic pattern and utilized a short field approach procedure. Accordingly, the wing flaps were fully extended and the approach speed was decreased to 65 knots. The pilot further indicated that on short final approach, the airplane's nose was high, and his visibility of the runway was therefore limited. The setting sun was about 30 degrees left of the airplane's nose. The pilot stated that he did not recall if the airplane touched down but was certain he entered ground effect. The airplane drifted over the left side of the runway. Rather than attempting to redirect the airplane's course, the pilot applied full engine power to go around. Seconds thereafter, as the engine power increased, the airplane impacted rising terrain and bushes. The pilot did not indicate having experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," he stated that "it is clear to me that I should have decided to go around earlier...." The airport manager reported that the airplane came to rest after impacting bushes and terrain. The accident site was about 100 feet west of the runway's left edge and about 300 feet northwest of the runway's departure end. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1038K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1038K-2003-01-02), registration cancelled 2003-01-02, S/N 27-0060, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20M - Registry model: [Mooney M20M](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (registry code 5870222) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-0060 - Airframe hours: 1539 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michel P. Lemaire - Registered owner: FAS Aviation Inc., Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2002, 12 hours before - Departed: OAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: Q69, Gualala, CA - Airport: Q69, Gualala, runway 31, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 310 total, 193 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: UKI, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020807022969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020807022969A), Aug 7, 2002: Mooney M20M, Gualala, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot stated that he knew before the flight that the runway was short and difficult because of winds and trees. After a couple of passes to look at the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.